Content distributing system, content distributing service server, and community site server

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a system where additional services using other sites connected over a network are made available when a content is delivered via a network.  
     According to the invention, when user A receives delivery of a content from a content delivery service server ( 1 ) by using a terminal ( 4 ), predetermined information is transmitted from the server ( 1 ) to user A or a community server ( 2 ). With this information, the preferential use of community sites or additional use of services is made available to user A. The preferential use is for example the preferential use of a community site bulletin board. The additional use is re-delivery of delivered contents by using community sites.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for selling anddelivering contents such as music and games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A service is in use that delivers at cost digital contents to auser terminal such as a computer or a portable telephone set from acontent delivery service server connected to a network such as theinternet. Delivered contents include music and game software contents.In this service, a purchaser accesses a content delivery site andselects desired contents from a variety of contents serviced by thesite.

[0003] However, the aforementioned related art system assumes that apurchaser selects a content delivery service server to purchase adesired content. This does not raise the user's appetite for purchasingcontents.

[0004] The invention aims at providing a system where additionalservices using other sites connected over a network are made availablewhen a content is delivered from a specific content delivery serviceserver, thus raising the user's appetite for purchasing contents byusing a specific server.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention delivers information on the preferential use ofcommunity sites to a purchaser of the contents or a community siteserver when a content delivery service server has delivered contents viaa network.

[0006] The invention delivers information on the purchase volume ofcontents as information on the preferential use when the content ismusic information and the community site is a fan club site of an artistrelated to the music information delivered.

[0007] The invention delivers information on the play performance of agame delivered as information on the preferential use when the contentis game software and the community site is a fan site of the gamedelivered.

[0008] The preferential use includes preferential use of a bulletinboard in a community site and financial aid in planning an offlinemeeting of community site users.

[0009] The content delivery service server delivers music informationcontents together with re-delivery permission information and purchaserof music information contents can re-deliver music information to otherusers of the community site via the community site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows the overall system of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a general block diagram showing an example of a contentdelivery service server;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a general block diagram showing an example of acommunity site server.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows the processing of the first embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 5 shows the processing of the second embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 6 shows the processing of the third embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 7 shows the processing of the fourth embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 8 shows the processing 1 of the fifth embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 9 shows the processing 2 of the fifth embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 10 shows the processing 3 of the fifth embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 11 shows the processing 1 of the sixth embodiment;

[0021]FIG. 12 shows the processing 3 of the sixth embodiment.

[0022] In the drawings, a sign 1 represents a content delivery serviceserver, 2 a community site server, 3 a network, 4 user A's terminal, 5user B's terminal, 11 a communications section, 12 a controller, 13 afile, 21 a communications section, 22 a controller, and 23 a file.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] Embodiments of the invention will be described referring to FIGS.1 through 12.

[0024]FIG. 1 shows the overall system of the invention. A contentdelivery service server 1 connected to a network 3 such as the internetis used to sell music information and game software contents anddelivers contents to user terminals 4, 5 via the network 3.

[0025] A community site server 2 is connected to the network 3 in orderto provide users with various services. A community site is for examplea fan club site of an artist related to the music delivered or the gamedelivered.

[0026]FIG. 2 shows a general block diagram of a content delivery serviceserver 1 and includes a communications section 11, a controller 12, anda file 13. The communications section 11 controls data communicationswith the network 3. The controller 12 performs various processing of theserver 2. The file 13 maintains data necessary for delivery such ascontents to be delivered and user IDs as well as records deliveryhistory.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a general block diagram showing the community siteserver 2 and includes a communications section 21, a controller 22, anda file 23. The communications section 21 controls data communicationswith the network 3. The controller 22 performs various processing of theserver 2. The file 23 maintains data necessary for services such asservice information per type of community site and user IDs.

[0028] When user A receives delivery of contents by using the terminal 4from the content delivery service server 1, predetermined information istransmitted from the server 1 to user A or the community site server 2.With this information, the preferential use of community sites oradditional use of services is made available to user A. The preferentialuse is for example the preferential use of a community site bulletinboard. The additional use is re-delivery of delivered contents by usingcommunity sites.

[0029] Details will be given via specific embodiments.

[0030] (First Embodiment)

[0031] This is a case where the content delivered from the contentdelivery service server 1 is music information and the community site isa fan club site of an artist, for example a player related to the musicdelivered. FIG. 4 shows processing by a user terminal 4, a music(content) delivery service server 1 and a fan club site server 2, anddata transfer between servers in that case.

[0032] The user (for example user A) wishing to purchase a specificmusic information content, connects the terminal 4 to the music(content) delivery service server 1 via the network 3, and transmits awill to purchase a content, ID of the content to be purchased, and theuser terminal ID (step 101). The user ID to be transmitted may be any IDthat identifies the user, as well as the terminal ID. The music deliveryservice server 1 performs charging and records the content purchasehistory (step 102), and transmits an encrypted content, an encoding keyfor the encrypted content, and charging information to the user terminal4 (step 103). Next, the music delivery service server 1 searches the fanclub site of the artist based on the content ID (step 104), andtransmits the terminal ID of the purchaser and music contents purchaseinformation (step 105). The fan club site server 2 retrieves the user IDregistered at the site, moves up the user in ranks (step 106), andtransmits the rank upgrading information to the user terminal 4 (step107).

[0033] The user accesses the fan club site server 2 via said network 3and uses the fan club site (not shown). The bulletin board of the fanclub site has restrictions on the authorized note count depending on theuser's rank. Display color of the user name at data write differs withthe rank. In case a user is moved up in ranks, the user is given themanagement authority of the bulletin board and is able to annotate thenotes of other users. When an offline meeting of the users of the siteis planned, the user is provided with financial aid according to his/herrank. Preferential services according to the rank may be selected asnecessary as stipulated by the fan club site.

[0034] (Second Embodiment)

[0035] This is an example where services similar to those in the firstembodiment are provided except that a user is moved up in ranksaccording to a different procedure. FIG. 5 shows processing by a userterminal 4, a music delivery service server 1, and a fan club siteserver 2, and data transfer between servers.

[0036] The user wishing to purchase a specific music informationcontent, same as the first embodiment, connects the terminal 4 to themusic delivery service server 1 via the network 3, and transmits a willto purchase a content, ID of the content to be purchased, and the userterminal ID (step 111). The music delivery service server 1 performscharging and records the content purchase history (step 112), andtransmits an encrypted content, an encoding key for the encryptedcontent, and charging information as well as purchased contentinformation and content purchase proof information to the user terminal4 (step 113). The user terminal 4 makes an inquiry to the user aboutwhether to report the content purchase proof information to the fan clubsite (step 114). In case the information is to be reported, the userterminal 4 transmits the terminal ID of the purchaser, contentinformation and content purchase proof information (copy) to the fanclub site server 2 via the network 3 (step 115). Report to the fan clubsite need not be necessarily performed at delivery but plural pieces ofpurchase proof information (copy) may be transmitted alter as a group.The fan club site server 2 retrieves the user ID registered at the sitebased on the transmitted user terminal ID, moves up the user in ranks(step 116), and transmits the rank upgrading information to the userterminal 4 (step 117). Use of the fan club site is the same as that inthe first embodiment.

[0037] (Third Embodiment)

[0038] This is a case where the content delivered from the contentdelivery service server 1 is game software and the community site is afan site of the game delivered. FIG. 6 shows processing by a userterminal 4, a game software (content) delivery service server 1, and agame fan site server 2, and data transfer between servers in that case.

[0039] The user wishing to purchase a specific game software informationcontent, connects the terminal 4 to the game software delivery serviceserver 1 via the network 3, and transmits a will to purchase a content,ID of the content to be purchased, and the user terminal ID (step 121).The game software delivery service server 1 performs charging andrecords the content purchase history (step 122), and transmits anencrypted content, an encoding key for the encrypted content, a contentserial number and charging information to the user terminal 4 (step123). The user plays the delivered game (step 124) and transmits thegame performance together with the serial number of the delivered gamesoftware and terminal ID to the game software delivery service server 1(step 125). The game software delivery service server 1 checks the gamesoftware serial number against the purchase history and retrieves thegame title based on the serial number (step 126), and transmits the userterminal ID, game title and game performance to the game fan site server2 (step 127). The game fan site server 2 retrieves the user IDregistered at the site based on the transmitted user terminal ID, movesup the user in ranks (step 128), and transmits the rank upgradinginformation to the user terminal 4 (step 127). Use of the game fan siteincludes the same services as those in the first embodiment.

[0040] (Fourth Embodiment)

[0041] This is an example where services similar to those in the thirdembodiment are provided except that a user is moved up in ranksaccording to a different procedure. FIG. 7 shows processing by a userterminal 4, a game software delivery service server 1 and a game fansite server 2, and data transfer between servers.

[0042] The user wishing to purchase a specific game software informationcontent, same as the third embodiment, connects the terminal 4 to thegame software delivery service server 1 via the network 3, and transmitsa will to purchase a content, ID of the content to be purchased, and theuser terminal ID (step 131). The game software delivery service server 1performs charging and records the content purchase history (step 132),and transmits an encrypted content, an encoding key for the encryptedcontent, a content serial number and charging information to the userterminal 4 (step 133). The user plays the delivered game (step 134) andtransmits the game performance together with the serial number of thedelivered game software to the game software delivery service server 1(step 135). The game software delivery service server 1 checks the gamesoftware serial number against the purchase history (step 136) andtransmits the game performance report to the user terminal 4 (step 137).The user terminal 4 transmits the game title information and theperformance report together with the terminal ID to the game fan siteserver 2 via the network 3 (step 138). The fan site server 2 retrievesthe user ID registered at the site based on the transmitted userterminal ID, moves up the user in ranks (step 139), and transmits therank upgrading information to the user terminal 4 (step 140). Use of thegame fan site is the same as that in the third embodiment.

[0043] (Fifth Embodiment)

[0044] This is a case where the content delivered from the contentdelivery service server 1 is music information and the purchased musiccontent can be re-delivered to user B who is a friend of user A via thecommunity site. In this case, the community site may not be the fan clubsite of the music. FIGS. 8 through 10 show processing by the user A'sterminal 4, the user B's terminal 5 and a music (content) deliveryservice server 1, and data transfer between servers.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 8, user A wishing to purchase a specific musicinformation content, connects the terminal 4 to the music deliveryservice server 1 via the network 3, and transmits a will to purchase acontent, ID of the content to be purchased, and the user A's terminal ID(step 201). The music delivery service server 1 performs charging andrecords the content purchase history (step 202), and transmits anencrypted content, an encoding key for the encrypted content, partialre-delivery permission information and charging information to the userterminal 4 (step 203). The partial re-delivery permission informationrefers to a permission to re-deliver part of a delivered content or acontent whose quality has been lowered to others. The user A's terminal4 specifies the range of re-delivery of delivered music content andcreates a message to user B as a consignee, and further creates aregeneration script describing how to play back the content withappended message (step 204). The user A's terminal 4 transmits themessage to user B and the regeneration script thus created together withthe content ID, user A's terminal ID, and user B's ID registered at thecommunity site to the music delivery service server 1 (step 205). Themusic delivery service server 1 transmits the user B's ID registered atthe community site to the community site server 2 (step 206) andreceives from the community site server 2 the user B's terminal IDretrieved by the community site server 2 (step 207). The music deliveryservice server 1 registers the re-delivery content at the file (step209), then transmits the re-delivery content ID to the user A's terminal4 (step 210).

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, when user A that received the re-deliverycontent ID, transmits the registered ID and password to the communitysite server 2 with an intention to give the re-delivery content to userB (step 211), the community site server 2 logs in (step 212) andprovides the user A's terminal 4 with a mailing feature (step 213). Theuser A's terminal 4 creates a mail destined for user B with there-delivery content appended (step 214) and transmits the resulting mailtogether with the registered IDs of user A and user B to the communitysite server 2. The community site server 2 stores the mail (step 216)and waits for an access.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 10, when user B transmits the registered ID andpassword to the community site server 2 (step 217), the community siteserver 2 logs in (step 218), and notifies the user B's terminal of thearrival of a mail (step 219). In response to a mail display request madby the user B's terminal 5 (step 220), the community site server 2retrieves the target mail (step 221) and transmits it to the user B'sterminal (step 222). In case user B browses the mail (step 223) and,knowing that a present content is received from user A, acquires acontent with appended message, the user B's terminal ID and there-delivery content ID are transmitted from the user B's terminal to themusic delivery service server 1 (step 224). The music delivery serviceserver 1 checks that re-delivery permission is given to user B (step225) and transmits the re-delivery content, message destined for user B,regeneration script and re-delivery content decoding key to the userterminal 5 (step 226). In this way, a content is given by user A to userB and user B can browse the re-delivery content and a message (step227).

[0048] While a transaction of purchasing and delivering a content and amail transmission/reception transaction are made by separate persons,these transactions may be performed in the same transaction.

[0049] (Sixth Embodiment)

[0050] This is an example where services similar to those in the fifthembodiment are provided except that transmission of a re-deliverycontent and a message is made according to a different procedure. FIGS.11 and 12 show processing by the user A's terminal 4, the user B'sterminal 5, and a music (content) delivery service server 1 and acommunity site server 2, and data transfer between servers.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 11, user A wishing to purchase a specific musicinformation content, connects the terminal 4 to the music deliveryservice server 1 via the network 3, and transmits a will to purchase acontent, ID of the content to be purchased, and the user A's terminal ID(step 231). The music delivery service server 1 performs charging andrecords the content purchase history (step 232), and transmits anencrypted content, an encoding key for the encrypted content, partialre-delivery permission information and charging information to the userterminal 4 (step 233). The user A's terminal 4 specifies the range ofre-delivery of delivered music content and creates a message to user Bas a consignee and a regeneration script describing how to play back thecontent with appended message, and a mail destined for user B (step234). The user A's terminal 4 transmits the message to user B,regeneration script and mail thus created together with the content ID,and user A's ID and user B's ID registered at the community site to thecommunity site server 2 (step 235). The community site server 2retrieves the terminal ID based on the user B's ID registered at thecommunity site (step 236) and transmits the terminal ID together withthe content ID, the message destined for user B and the regenerationscript to the music delivery service server 1 (step 237). The musicdelivery service server 1 registers the re-delivery content (step 238)and transmits the content ID of the re-delivery content (step 239). Thecommunity site server 2 appends the re-delivery content ID to the maildestined for user B and stores the resulting mail (step 240).

[0052] As shown in FIG. 12, the community site server 2 delivers themail (step 241). The user A's registration ID, the mail destined foruser B and the content ID of the re-delivery content are transmitted tothe user B' terminal 5 (step 242). In case user B browses the mail (step243) and, knowing that a present content is received from user A,acquires a content with appended message, the user B's terminal ID andthe re-delivery content ID are transmitted from the user B's terminal tothe music delivery service server 1 (step 244). The music deliveryservice server 1 checks that re-delivery permission is given to user B(step 245) and transmits the re-delivery content, message destined foruser B, regeneration script and re-delivery content decoding key to theuser terminal 5 (step 246). In this way, a content is given by user A touser B and user B can browse the re-delivery content and a message (step247).

[0053] In the sixth embodiment, only content IDs aretransmitted/received between users and the community site so thattransmission volume and storage volume at the community site are reducedthus relieving the load on the community site. A message istransmitted/received without intervention of the music delivery serviceserver 1, which relieves the load on the music delivery service server1.

[0054] <Industrial Applicability>

[0055] As understood from the preceding description, according to theinvention, it is possible to provide a system where additional servicesusing other sites connected over a network are made available byreceiving a content delivered from a specific content delivery serviceserver, thus raising the user's appetite for purchasing contents byusing a specific content delivery service server.

1. A content delivery system for delivering contents by using a network,said system comprising: a content delivery service server connected tosaid network for selling and delivering contents; and a community siteserver connected to said network for providing services related to saidcontent delivered, wherein said content delivery service server deliversinformation on the preferential use of said community site to apurchaser of the contents or said community site server via saidnetwork.
 2. A content delivery system according to claim 1, wherein saidcontent is music information, said community site is a fan club site ofan artist related to the music information delivered, and saidinformation on the preferential use is information on a purchase volumeof said content.
 3. A content delivery system according to claim 2,wherein the information on said purchase volume is transmitted to saidcommunity site server together with the ID information of said purchaservia said network.
 4. A content delivery system according to claim 2,wherein the information on said purchase volume is proof information toprove the fact of purchase and delivered to said purchaser via saidnetwork.
 5. A content delivery system according to claim 1, wherein saidcontent is game software, said community site is a fan site of the gamedelivered, and the information on said preferential use is informationon the play performance of said delivered game.
 6. A content deliverysystem according to claim 5, wherein said content delivery serviceserver delivers the game play performance information transmitted fromsaid purchaser together with the ID information of said purchaser tosaid community server via said network.
 7. A content delivery systemaccording to claim 5, wherein said content delivery service server,receiving the game play performance information from said purchaser,delivers the proof information to prove the received performance to saidpurchaser.
 8. A content delivery system according to any one of claims 1through 7, wherein said preferential use includes either thepreferential use of a bulletin board in a community site or financialaid in planning an offline meeting of community site users.
 9. A contentdelivery system for delivering contents by using a network, said systemcomprising: a content delivery service server connected to said networkfor selling and delivering music information contents together withre-delivery permission information; and a community site serverconnected to said network, wherein in case a purchaser of said musicinformation content re-delivers said music information content toanother user of said community site, said content delivery serviceserver registers said re-delivery content in a local server and deliversinformation for identifying said re-delivery content to said purchaseror said community server via said network, and the information foridentifying said re-delivery content is delivered to said other user.10. A content delivery system according to claim 9, wherein messageinformation to said other user is appended to said re-delivery content.11. A content delivery service server for selling and deliveringcontents via a network, wherein said content delivery service server isconnected via said network to a community site server for providingservices related to said content delivered and said content deliveryservice server delivers information on the preferential use of saidcommunity site to said purchaser or said community site server whiledelivering said content.
 12. A content delivery service server accordingto claim 11, wherein said content is music information, said communitysite is a fan club site of an artist related to the music informationdelivered, and said information on the preferential use is informationon a purchase volume of said content.
 13. A content delivery serviceserver according to claim 11, wherein the information on said purchasevolume is transmitted to said community site server together with the IDinformation of said purchaser.
 14. A content delivery service serveraccording to claim 12, wherein the information on said purchase volumeis proof information to prove the fact of purchase and delivered to saidpurchaser.
 15. A content delivery service server according to claim 11,wherein said content is game software, said community site is a fan siteof the game delivered, and the information on said purchase volume isinformation on the play performance of said delivered game.
 16. Acontent delivery service server according to claim 15, wherein saidcontent delivery service server delivers the game play performanceinformation transmitted from said purchaser together with the IDinformation of said purchaser to said community server.
 17. A contentdelivery service server according to claim 15, wherein said contentdelivery service server, receiving the game play performance informationfrom said purchaser, delivers the proof information to prove thereceived performance to said purchaser.
 18. A content delivery serviceserver according to any one of claims 11 through 17, wherein saidpreferential use includes either the preferential use of a bulletinboard in a community site or financial aid in planning an offlinemeeting of community site users.
 19. A content delivery service serverconnected to a network for selling and delivering music informationcontents together with re-delivery permission information, wherein saidcontent delivery service server is connected to a community site serverfor providing services via said network, wherein in case a purchaser ofsaid music information content re-delivers said music informationcontent to another user of said community site, said content deliveryservice server registers said re-delivery content in a local server anddelivers information for identifying said re-delivery content to saidpurchaser or said community server via said network.
 20. A contentdelivery service server according to claim 19, wherein messageinformation to said other user is appended to said re-delivery content.21. A community site server connected to a content delivery serviceserver for selling and delivering contents via a network, wherein saidcommunity site server provides services related to said contentdelivered via said network and receiving information on the preferentialuse of the local site based on the delivery, updates the use rank ofsaid content purchaser.
 22. A community site server according to claim21, wherein said content is music information, said community site is afan club site of an artist related to the music information delivered,and said information on the preferential use is information on apurchase volume of said content.
 23. A community site server accordingto claim 22, wherein the information on said purchase volume istransmitted from said content delivery service server together with theID information of said purchaser.
 24. A community site server accordingto claim 22, wherein the information on said purchase volume is proofinformation to prove the fact of purchase and delivered from saidpurchaser.
 25. A community site server according to claim 21, whereinsaid content is game software, said community site is a fan site of thegame delivered, and the information on said preferential use isinformation on the play performance of said delivered game.
 26. Acommunity site server according to claim 25, wherein the information onthe play performance of said game is game play information and IDinformation of said purchaser transmitted from said purchaser, whichinformation is delivered from said content delivery service server. 27.A community site server according to claim 25, wherein the informationon the play performance of said game is performance proof informationtransmitted by said content delivery service server to said purchaser,which information is delivered from said purchaser.
 28. A community siteserver connected to a content delivery server for selling and deliveringmusic information contents via said network, wherein said community siteserver provides services via said network and in case a purchaser ofsaid music information content re-delivers said music informationcontent to another user of said community site, said community siteserver delivers the ID information of said other user to said contentdelivery service server in response to a request made by said contentdelivery service server.
 30. A community site server according to claim29, wherein message information to said other user is appended to saidre-delivery content.